sussexpob wrote:Even getting bowled out for 130 on double the overs would feel a billion times better. It's not the score or the failures, it's the fact no one seemed to try. They accepted defeat on day 2

Similar to the pessimistic prediction I made yesterday, about our 2nd innings run-rate, which all too predictably came home to roost...

...except with only a third of the runs and a third of the overs.

Pathetic!!

Sports broadcasting media nut miscast as a hard-working family man. Or should that be the other way around?

If we'd have batted 143 overs in the second innings at Nottingham this week - scoring at the same rate as in NZ - we'd still be 156 behind, 1 wicket in-hand, with 40 overs still to play tomorrow afternoon!

That's how much poorer we were against SA this time around, seems like the Kiwis let us off the hook by not declaring early enough...

Sports broadcasting media nut miscast as a hard-working family man. Or should that be the other way around?

That said, Dawson is a complete waste of a spot in the current side. I think we all agree he needs to be replaced with a batsman.

I wouldn't pick Crane now, as the next tour is to Australia. They murder all but the very best spinners down there - it won't do anything for him except knock his confidence.

For all the typical bluster and bravado at the end of the day by the England team ('we believe we can save/win this game, we need to bat as well as we can, show some fight, etc.'), you just know that it'll all be over tomorrow with a pathetic capitulation. I don't think anyone expects them to win or draw this game now, but actually demonstrating some fight, making South Africa work damn hard for every wicket, and taking the game into day 5 would be something. But it'll all be over shortly after tea for a 200+ run defeat, assisted by some horrible shots against balls that should have been left alone. And they'll make excuses about 'we have to play our natural game, this is the way we play', rather than actually having enough professional skill to adapt their play to the situation.

alfie wrote:[quote="bigfluffylemon]For all the typical bluster and bravado at the end of the day by the England team ('we believe we can save/win this game, we need to bat as well as we can, show some fight, etc.'), you just know that it'll all be over tomorrow with a pathetic capitulation. I don't think anyone expects them to win or draw this game now, but actually demonstrating some fight, making South Africa work damn hard for every wicket, and taking the game into day 5 would be something. But it'll all be over shortly after tea for a 200+ run defeat, assisted by some horrible shots against balls that should have been left alone. And they'll make excuses about 'we have to play our natural game, this is the way we play', rather than actually having enough professional skill to adapt their play to the situation.[/quote]